Work continues to clear overgrown vegetation

In an ongoing bid to improve the image of Wilmslow, the Town Council has arranged for work to be carried out at a number of highly visible areas in the town centre.

In recent weeks overgrown vegetation has been stripped from the memorial gardens roundabout, the triangle of land at the other end of Mill Street, near the A34 junction, and at the front of Lindow Common on Altrincham Road.

Reporting at this week's Town Council meeting, Cllr Ruth McNulty said "A lot of progress has been made."

She added "The three beds outside The Rectory, although they will be planted in red, white and blue (rather than yellow and orange to tie in with Britain in Bloom's golden theme for 2014 ) the plants will be in the form of the union flag."

Cllr McNulty also confirmed that the scaffolding from outside the leisure centre will be removed next week so they will be able to replant the beds there.

Cllr Rod Menlove commented "It is recognised that visitors to Wilmslow start to form their impression of our town from the state of the entry approaches albeit road or rail. The Town Council 'Welcome to Wilmslow' signs have really helped as have the improvements at the railway station and to the Station Road frontage. This latest activity in the ongoing programme deliberately has immediate highly visual impact.

"The memorial roundabout will be designed and replanted to be sympathetic to the nearby memorial gardens and to the commemorations for the 1914-18 World War. At the other end of Mill Street the self-seeded vegetation will be totally grubbed up and the current idea is that it will be replanted as a wild flower meadow. Altrincham Road is probably the busiest entry road and the long Lindow Common frontage now looks cared for and is yet another improvement to this Wilmslow SSSI treasure.

"I view this latest activity as work in progress and look forward to this being completed and then to the further works on our other main entry roads. These are steps in combined efforts to improve the image of Wilmslow."

Town Clerk Matthew Jackson also confirmed at this week's meeting that moss is going to be removed from around Grange Park Avenue by the probation service.

Tags:
Councillor Rod Menlove, Wilmslow Town Council
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Terry Roeves
Tuesday 20th May 2014 at 5:24 pm
More good news. THANKYOU WTC!
Amy Allen
Tuesday 20th May 2014 at 7:17 pm
Great work- please can you do something with the dangerously overgrown bushes on Lacey Green (after the railway bridge, right hand side, just before you reach Twinnies Road). I walk past there twice a day with my young children (aged 5 and 3) and there is barely enough room to safely walk whilst holding their hands. Or, please advise as to which department needs contacting with regards to this? Thank you.
James MacDonald
Tuesday 20th May 2014 at 9:44 pm
That is a good if not overdue start. It would help if the overgrown vegetation is removed on Alderley Road near the roundabout with Bedells Lane and Knutsford Road. You have to crouch like a tiger to walk underneath or slalom along the pavement. If this had been overhanging the road something would have been done long ago. Pavements are always overlooked by the council.
Colin Jones
Tuesday 20th May 2014 at 10:13 pm
I'm really pleased at this enhancement work as it complements what those of us in Wilmslow Clean Team are doing. I agree that it's very important to have the various entry points to the town looking good. I must admit I thought it was CEC rather than WTC who were organising the vegetation cut-back, because the contractor's men who were clearing and re-planting the border at the junction of Altrincham Road and Racecourse Road told me it was on behalf of Cheshire East.
I agree with Amy Allen about overgrown bushes, hedges and trees which are dangerously narrowing pavements - but this is a Borough-wide problem. It's a double whammy because trees aren't cut back, which leads to more leaves falling into gutters, which in turn aren't as regularly swept, and drains become blocked quicker, and aren't cleaned as often.
Stephanie Addison
Tuesday 20th May 2014 at 10:26 pm
The good work is most definitely noted and very appreciated.
Dave Cash
Wednesday 21st May 2014 at 12:27 am
Colin, it is CEC Highways stat duty/resp to maintain roadside verges.
AIUI WTC resolved at last meeting, to contact CEC to investigate ways of encouraging CEC to increase the planned schedule of works. This timescale appears to be 'slipping'.
DELETED ACCOUNT
Wednesday 21st May 2014 at 8:59 am
It would be interesting to know whose responsibility it was to maintain public footpaths where developments have been allowed to be built- the developers or Cheshire East? The one from Pinewood Road through to Brickyard Farm is overgrown with areas full of rubbish.
Richard Bullock
Wednesday 21st May 2014 at 12:11 pm
@Jackie Pass: Cheshire East Council are the highways authority for the borough and so are responsible for the surface of any public right of way in the borough, including public footpaths. The landowner is responsible for preventing overhanging vegetation or other obstructions from encroaching on the public right of way. The landowner is also responsible for maintaining gates and stiles on the path. You should be able to contact CEC through their website regarding a specific right of way. The specific footpath in question is Wilmslow FP 72.

Developers are not permitted to obstruct a public right of way unless there is a formal footpath closure order in place.
Mike Norbury
Thursday 22nd May 2014 at 12:48 pm
all very nicely swept away but I feel that this work ought to have been done away from the spring nesting season, used to be that you could get fined for disturbing nesting birds etc or is it ok if you a council?